Destination Midwest

Jaylyn McCloy might be better described as the community connector for Grand Rapids. She develops, promotes and manages EXGR’s marketing partnerships with local hotels, restaurants, breweries, attractions, service providers, event planners and other related businesses. Jaylyn also serves on the board of directors for the Beer City Brewers Guild.

Robin Shear is a TEDx and global joy speaker, author and joy coach who helps professionals meet their needs for joy so they can give and lead from a place of fullness. Using her "Joy, NO MATTER WHAT" 5-point framework, she equips audiences to reduce burnout, strengthen connection and thrive at work. Robin is the president of the National Speakers Association of Michigan. Her book, Messy Joy, helps readers find joy in their lives despite challenging circumstances.

Jason Spaulding is a longtime craft brewing entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Brewery Vivant and Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits in Grand Rapids. With more than 25 years in the craft beer industry, Jason has spent his career building distinctive hospitality brands rooted in creativity, community and a commitment to doing business responsibly.

Jason co-founded New Holland Brewery in 1997 before moving on to start Brewery Vivant with his wife Kris in 2010. Together, they lead Brewery Vivant to became the first LEED-certified brewery in the United States and have grown Vivant into a Grand Rapids institution known for European-inspired beer, thoughtful food, sustainability and hospitality. In 2019 the Spaulding’s started Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits as a sub brand leaning into a more playful direction housed in a warehouse in Kentwood, Mich.,  known for indoor pickleball courts and family-friendly video games and food truck-style street food.

Jason remains actively involved in shaping the future of the brewing industry. He serves as secretary of the Michigan Brewers Guild board of directors and as a member of the Brewers Association board of directors.

Troy Zitzelsberger brings the brewing expertise to the founding team of Third Nature. He’s a Certified Cicerone and certified beer judge and has been brewing beer since his college days. His model/acting and free-spirit personality has taken him to Chicago and New York to Thailand and most recently South Korea. He honed his craft and recipes for seven years in South Korea where he owned Hop Mori Brewing Company and met his wife Donghee. The dream, and now reality, was for him to move back to Michigan and start this family brewing venture.